Archive photoOn Wednesday, May 22nd, Princess Marie will distribute the AIDS Foundation's Annual Prize to individuals who have made a special effort on HIV/AIDS. At the event the "HIV Award", the "Research Award", and the "Information Award" will be handed out. Information PrizeGitte Kronborg is a Consultant at Hvidovre Hospital in the Infection Disease Department. She has a thorough knowledge of HIV; she treats, researches and followes through her studies. In a time when many Danes have an exaggerated fear of becoming infected with HIV and an outdated image of an HIV-infected person's disease, it is crucial that medical authorities spread the knowledge that we have today:
If the HIV infection is properly treated, the risk of infecting other sexually is negligible.
Gitte Kronborg is awarded the AIDS Foundation's "Information Award" for her clear medical statement of the greatly reduced infectiousness of the successfully treated HIV-infected. It is not only important information for all treated patients who no longer need to be anxious about infecting others, but it is also an important part of efforts to overcome prejudice and stigmatization of people living with HIV.
HIV PrizeJakob Hedegaard is an open HIV-infected, and he has repeatedly spoken about his life with HIV in the media. At the World Aids Day 2012, he was on the cover of gay magazine Out & About. There are not many HIV infected people who are courages enough to go public, and thus help to put a face on the debate about HIV and HIV-infected. Jakob Hedegaard talks openly about how he can now live a good life with HIV. Friends and family have welcomed that his treatment is successful. But he can also, with the same strength and integrity tell you that this has not always been. That he also had a difficult time, and that it has taken him time to get where he is today.
Jakob Hedegaard's openness and experience with HIV has been an inspiration to many others. At the same time he understands that a valuable discussion on the challenges of living with HIV in the homosexual community is necessary. Jakob Hedegaard will receive the AIDS Foundation's "HIV Award", because he courageously, openly and rationally shares his experience and thus is an important ambassador for the many people living with HIV who otherwise hide the fact in fear of the surrounding world reaction.
Research PrizeMorten Frisch is a senior consultant in epidemiology research at Statens Serum Institute and adjunct professor of sexual health epidemiology at Aalborg University. Morten Frisch, as one of the first researchers in Denmark, accepted the challenge to clarify the health challenges of LGBT people, which is one of the AIDS Foundation's main target groups. Knowledge in this area is extremely limited because Danish citizens are not registered on the basis of sexual orientation and identity. The lack of knowledge gives more conjecture than explanations. Morten Frisch developed model of Civil Registration that can contribute to knowledge in this area and has the analysis of persons in a registered partnership, among other things demonstrated an excess mortality by suicide for LGBT people, and that men married to men are living longer than in the past.
Morten Frisch will receive the AIDS Foundation's "Research Award", because he goes roads no one else goes in researching LGBT. With his consistent, creative and critical approach he illuminates an important area that is otherwise characterized by very limited knowledge, creating the basis for equity in health.
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